Near or post menopausal group

SardisGrandma

I had a hysterectomy at age 40 but since they left my ovaries I stopped having periods but still had to go through menopause as normal. Which I started at 45. Night sweats & hot flashes galore. I never got the mood swings although my now X hubby would disagree. ( His lying cheating womanizing self. And Menopause made me moody?? Lol) anyway count me in. I still have hot flashes even tho drs said would only last 5 yrs. Metabolism!! There I said it! I dont eat near as much as the younger women around me. Growing old isnt for wimps! Exercise hurts my knees, back, feet, & I cant catch my breath. But at 60 I'm trying. It gets a little easier every week. But I dont think I'll ever say I like walking. I'm walking 2 miles a day 5 times a week & going to curves 4 to 5 times a week but I hate it! I wanna lose 100 lbs & will start week 4. So far I lost 10.4 lbs in last 3 wks

SardisGrandma

Good morning ladies! I hope you are all having a fantastic weekend! If anyone could share their experiences on how they coped with hot flashes and sleep, I would be interested to hear them! They are interrrupting my sleep something awful! Grrrrr............

SardisGrandma

Hot flashes. I've had it all. HRT, black coash, estroven. Heres best treatment! Remote controlled pedestal fan! I have one in the den & one in the bedroom. I sleep w control in my hand & smile.

Dunkirk

I was treated for endometrosis when I was in my 20's. Always expected to hit menopause early, so I was surprised when I finally went through it last year, at 51. One day I realized it had been a couple of months since my last period. The ONE thing that really surprised me was my SUGAR CRAVING. I would try to eat fruit, that wasn't satisifying, protein, veggies, all of my healthy options same effect. I CRAVED sugar.
I'm still battling the craving. Anyone else have this happen to them?

Candida maybe?

mollie05

OMG im so pleased that other people are going through the non sleeping pattern, some days l just feel awful!! I hear that in Spain the ladies spray their sheets with cold water before they get in so it will be really cool but thats ok but after a hot flush l get cold again!!

Dont sleep, moody want to eat anything sleep why is it we women have to go through all this

lizziebeth1028

Good Morning my fellow Hot Flashers! Happy Halloween! I'm coming off my birthday/halloween weekend (I turned 53).......I consumed WAY too much cake, candy, ice cream and food in general. I have a food hangover!! lol....well, there was some instances of alcohol too over the weekend (vampire's kiss cocktails, jello shots and gummy worms soaked in vodka).....so the hangover may not just be from too much food.

I made my goal of wanting to be under 140 pounds for my birthday. I'm sure if I got on the scale today it's going to be right back up over 140...but I'm not going to subject myself to that type of negativity!! No way! Today is a new beginning! And my sluggish peri-menopausal metabolism can go to hell! I'm back an ready to kick *kitten*!! Who's with me?!?!?!??!?!

beckyjean10

I just joined 5 days ago, and am really liking the app and website so far. I am SO glad to find a group of people that can relate to this menopause challenge. I turned 50, started menopause, and gained 10 pounds all in about the same month. Not to mention the newly acquired and out of character psycho-*****y-over-reacting personality trait I occasionally exhibit that my family has a good laugh about behind my back. Happy 50th birthday to me! Seriously, I am fortunate in that I am not also having hot flashes (knock on wood). So, I have been really, really good nutritionally speaking and working out daily for 5 days and I have lost a whopping 1 pound! My boyfriend started yesterday and has lost 3 pounds. I am very supportive and happy for him, but have I mentioned that menopause sucks? Despite all that, yes, I am with you lizziebeth1028! I am ready to kick some *kitten* and get into the remaining 90% of the clothes in my closet!

1960lisa

I just joined 5 days ago, and am really liking the app and website so far. I am SO glad to find a group of people that can relate to this menopause challenge. I turned 50, started menopause, and gained 10 pounds all in about the same month. Not to mention the newly acquired and out of character psycho-*****y-over-reacting personality trait I occasionally exhibit that my family has a good laugh about behind my back. Happy 50th birthday to me! Seriously, I am fortunate in that I am not also having hot flashes (knock on wood). So, I have been really, really good nutritionally speaking and working out daily for 5 days and I have lost a whopping 1 pound! My boyfriend started yesterday and has lost 3 pounds. I am very supportive and happy for him, but have I mentioned that menopause sucks? Despite all that, yes, I am with you lizziebeth1028! I am ready to kick some *kitten* and get into the remaining 90% of the clothes in my closet!

Welcome beckyjean:flowerforyou: .... I can relate completely.... I've now been here a month and I've been (mostly) very healthy, started a running program, active every day.... and the scales are barely moving!! But I love this site and have made some wonderful, supportive friends so I really feel I am on the right track.... feel free to send me a friend request if you are after some more support... and I too have soooo many clothes.... but nothing to wear!

Lisa

annarouni

Ahh, so many clothes but nothing to wear. Were you looking over my shoulder? ahhhaha I used to love turtleneck sweaters and have a ton of them. But with the hot flashes they are no longer an option. Yet, I hate to throw them out. The "fat clothes" are a bit too loose now-yay! But the "thin clothes" are still a bit tight. Do I keep wearing the "fat clothes" or do I squeeze into the "thin clothes" and feel uncomfortable...decisions, decisions. By the way, I don't remember anybody mentioning dry skin. That is new for me and I go through lotion like crazy. Itchiness becomes noticeable at unseemly moments and I have to get a grip not to scratch. Ugggh! :frown:

1960lisa

Ahh, so many clothes but nothing to wear. Were you looking over my shoulder? ahhhaha I used to love turtleneck sweaters and have a ton of them. But with the hot flashes they are no longer an option. Yet, I hate to throw them out. The "fat clothes" are a bit too loose now-yay! But the "thin clothes" are still a bit tight. Do I keep wearing the "fat clothes" or do I squeeze into the "thin clothes" and feel uncomfortable...decisions, decisions. By the way, I don't remember anybody mentioning dry skin. That is new for me and I go through lotion like crazy. Itchiness becomes noticeable at unseemly moments and I have to get a grip not to scratch. Ugggh! :frown:

I don't know about looking over your shoulder but I can relate to everything you say..... dry skin.... god I go through gallons of moisturizer and oils..... have to put really rich cream on my feet every night or my feet feel horrible and dry..... and the turtlenecks.... I'm the same.... I do have one which I wear a lot because it is sleeveless.... with a very light cardigan I can manage it.... but I have several lovely big chunky cardigans and I haven't got into them once over winter!

Oh the joys of menopause!

Lauren8239

The itching drives me insane!!! My head, my back and my feet, my hands.
:sad:

ChicagoJan

Hi ladies:
Thanks for starting this thread. I'm 51 years old and still peri. I keep telling my husband I can't wait for periods to be over, but he looks at me a bit oddly. I think this makes him feel old.

Anyway, I've always had a difficult time with weight, and over the summer, we went to Iceland for 2 weeks. When I came back (after eating as carefully as possible--few options tho, since I'm a vegetarian), I'd popped up to 257 from about 250. Previous highest was 270 and I'd lost about 20 on South Beach a few years ago and had been keeping it off pretty well until this summer. I think my metabolism just got even worse.

Then I went to see my doctor, who told me that I was prediabetic. Yow. So here goes. I've actually lost about 10 so far from the highest weight over the summer, but am trying to keep it going.

I've been working out with a trainer for more than a year, now, which is helpful because she pushes me harder than I would push myself.

Please feel free to friend me!
Thanks for the support!

debs6

Welcome to all the new comers that I have not had an opportunity to greet so far. As I read through the more recent posts I realise that we have so much in common- venturing through this new ground we call menopause. I read once what a cruelty of nature it is that on average our children reach well into their teen years ( with all the associated behavioural and attitude issues) just in time to coincide beautifully with the onset of peri-menopause. So when we are at our most vulnerable we have to venture into one of the hardest times and tasks of our lives.

How I hate the dry skin issues- and it is something I have never experienced in my whole life. I may have made this comment before as it is something I firmly believe. Lot's wife in the bible is said to have turned into a pillar of salt when she looked back as they were fleeing. My comment has always been that clearly she was going through menopause and she just dried up and blew away!

I always found the night sweats were easier in the summer - although generally my tolerance for hot weather has decreased. The worst thing about experiencing them in the winter is that you wake up under the covers and feel like you are going to melt - you throw off the covers and as you cool down you fall asleep again to wake up absolutely frozen - so up with the covers and the whole viscous cycle repeats itself endlessly in the night. Summer on the other hand you are only woken during the heating mode- so a marginally better sleep is had.

kel7298

Hello everyone!

I had a full hysterectomy in Dec. '07. Talk about changing overnight. I swear it did..haha. Since then my weight has increased 20lb despite my best workout efforts. I guess I like eating too much. Not anymore. I am going to follow this 1200 calorie plan and work out 5 day a week if it kills me. :sad: My husband is retiring in January and we are celebrating by going on a cruise. What better motivation!

applebobbrush

Hello all!

I am a 35 year old that truly understands all the frustration of menopause. I had to have a hysterectomy 11 years ago. It wasn't too bad for a couple of years I took estrogen and everything seemed great. Then I got a blood clot in my calf...dum dum dum. No more estrogen booo hooo! I have been struggling with my weight ever since. It wasn't until this past summer when my daughter started her monthly cycle that I was so thankful for not having to go through that anymore. I do find I have to work out much harder, longer and eat less than other women my age to even get a pound to budge off my body. I am so glad I found this group and MFP.

opalmel

I always found the night sweats were easier in the summer - although generally my tolerance for hot weather has decreased. The worst thing about experiencing them in the winter is that you wake up under the covers and feel like you are going to melt - you throw off the covers and as you cool down you fall asleep again to wake up absolutely frozen - so up with the covers and the whole viscous cycle repeats itself endlessly in the night. Summer on the other hand you are only woken during the heating mode- so a marginally better sleep is had.

OMG! That is exactly what I'm going through right now! I was thinking it was bad in the summer but it is so much worse now because I can't get any sleep! I keep the house at 63 degrees because I can't stand the heater with the hot flashes but then in between I am freezing to death. My husband just piles on the blankets and he is ok. :frown:

Lauren8239

I always found the night sweats were easier in the summer - although generally my tolerance for hot weather has decreased. The worst thing about experiencing them in the winter is that you wake up under the covers and feel like you are going to melt - you throw off the covers and as you cool down you fall asleep again to wake up absolutely frozen - so up with the covers and the whole viscous cycle repeats itself endlessly in the night. Summer on the other hand you are only woken during the heating mode- so a marginally better sleep is had.

OMG! That is exactly what I'm going through right now! I was thinking it was bad in the summer but it is so much worse now because I can't get any sleep! I keep the house at 63 degrees because I can't stand the heater with the hot flashes but then in between I am freezing to death. My husband just piles on the blankets and he is ok. :frown:

So you guys get that too? The hot flush....feel like you're burning up from the inside out, then you get the shivers cause you feel like you just got dunked into a bath of ice? Gawd hormones are weird!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BackwoodsMom

So, when I let my 15 yo son know that I'm having a hot flash (we homeschool so I'm with him most of the day) his comment to me is, "It's a calorie burn, Mom!" (He's studying chemistry right now so he related it to the definition of a calorie.) So, I'm wondering if there's a way to put hot flashes under our calories burned! :-P I'm sort of just kidding but it put a humorous spin on my frustration of sweating up a storm.

opalmel

So, when I let my 15 yo son know that I'm having a hot flash (we homeschool so I'm with him most of the day) his comment to me is, "It's a calorie burn, Mom!" (He's studying chemistry right now so he related it to the definition of a calorie.) So, I'm wondering if there's a way to put hot flashes under our calories burned! :-P I'm sort of just kidding but it put a humorous spin on my frustration of sweating up a storm.

That's funny! I also have a 15 yo son and when I mention my hot flashes to him he just looks at me strangely. I agree that there should be some calories burned with a hot flash. Maybe I'll wear my HRM next time and see! :laugh:

scrapdreams

Just found this group. I am 50 years old and my period is now more regular than it ever has been in my entire life. Every 28 days... lasting for 7-8 days. Blech. I know I have to be getting close to the whole menopause thing, but if I follow in my mother's footsteps, it won't be until I'm 56. More blech. Besides hot flashes and cessation of periods, how do you all know when you are starting menopause???

kimiel51

Hot flash HELL over here right now, and combine that with hubby's croupy cough last night= no sleep for either of us! :-(

mageepilot

Glad to see all this info. Still having hot flashes but I THINK I'm done with periods. I am definately having trouble losing the belly fat. Feel free to add me.

1960lisa

Just found this group. I am 50 years old and my period is now more regular than it ever has been in my entire life. Every 28 days... lasting for 7-8 days. Blech. I know I have to be getting close to the whole menopause thing, but if I follow in my mother's footsteps, it won't be until I'm 56. More blech. Besides hot flashes and cessation of periods, how do you all know when you are starting menopause???

the hot flashes are a dead give away.... lack of sleep (not just because of the hot/cold thing but just cause I can't sleep).... I have now not had a period for 10 months... I think when you have been for 12 months you are officially post-menopausal.... I'm counting down.... don't want to go through that again..... for the year or 2 prior my periods were very heavy and really made me feel awful. I had never had any issues with them before but sometimes it even got to the stage where I would stay home for a day or so as I felt so "yuck".

Oh and the other thing I nearly forgot.... is my forgetfulness!! I can't remember what I did last week, what the movie was about I just saw, what the book I just finished was about, what anything.... I have to have lists everywhere... and then I lose them! I am a bit worried as I have decided to go back to university next year.... not sure how my post-menopausal brain will cope :grumble:

1960lisa

.... and did I mention the forgetfulness:bigsmile: :bigsmile: :sad:

kantone999

Count me in!!

MindiKat

I don't know how to join a group, but please add me. I've been menopausal since I was 24 due to a hysterectomy. Now doctor is taking me off hormones after almost 12 years of them and I'm horrified at what my life will be like (probably not as much as my family mind you). Anyone have any experience of life going off of hormones with nothing but a prayer at sanity? It is harder to keep weight off with the hormones (that was my thought) or au naturale?

LisaMariaCallow

I'm 5 days from being "in menopause"!! My last period was 11/9/10, and a year ago I thought I'd be happy if I could lose 10 lbs. I'll be 50 in 6 weeks, and I'm currently at my lowest weight since I was 35 and in the best shape of my life, both physically and mentally!!

If you want to start up a Menopause Group, count me in!! Friend me if you want!!

:happy:

GettingFit4Me2011

Hi Everyone! I have another post on here somewhere! I am catching up on the post readings. I am 57 years old and I have been going through the change of life at least for 5 years.

The sweats during the day are not as bad as they use to be. I did gain weight around the middle and ignored it. Then the weight creeping up again toward the 200 again. 200 pounds is my STOP point! I re-evaluated my life style and decided that drinking multiple Mountain Dews a day will make me gain weight, plus all the snacking did not help...So, I am in the process of changing my life style.

If I do not change my life style, I will gain the weight back. I have lost 18 pounds since August. It does not show up my ticker because I found this site in October. My pants are loose, I am feeling lighter. I have learned to say no! The calories are not worth it!

We can do this together! Add me as a friend if you like. I love myfitnesspal! Especially now that I can do a lot of stuff on my smart phone...like...keeping up with the calories.

GettingFit4Me2011

More information to add to this journey.....

It took almost 3 years to get to the point of no menstrual cycle. I do not take hormones because ovarian and breast cancer run in my family history. Find a little fan, because you will need it for those hot flashes! I have 3 little fans! One for the living room, bedroom and one for work.

My body went through lots of anxiety (shaking inside) and I lost weight when the hormones were at their worse. The anxiety was really bad, I went to the doctor and was put on medication. I do feel like I am on the downside of this change of life thing...because the symptoms are not as bad as they use to be. ... this is the only way to describe it.

Yea...my doctor did the tests when I said I was going through the change too and the blood work did not reflect the changes.

I have noticed I have more hot flashes when I am stressed...so, try to stay calm!

During my worst hot flashes, I felt like my body was on fire all over. The only cure was to stand in front of a fan. Keep the thermostat on the cool side! You will get through this phase in your life.

Add me as a friend if you would like. I am serious about losing the weight...I had it in my head that I could not lose the weight because of the menopause thing. Well....you can lose the weight!

kimiel51

Hoping for a good week ahead for everybody!!